Device for protective operator{3 s respiratory organs against aerosols

ABSTRACT

A device for protecting the operator&#39;&#39;s respiratory organs against aerosols comprises a protective housing provided with a light filter and a perforated pipe which is located on the outside of the housing under the light filter. The pipe has a length which is at least, equal to that of the light filter and is closed at one end, with the pipe being used to divert the aerosol flow from the operator with the aid of air coming out of the pipe perforations. The proposed device provides favourable working conditions for the operator since it eliminates biological effects of the conditioned air detrimental to man.

United States Patent Pokhodnya et al. 1 Dec. 2, 1975 [54] DEVICE FOR PROTECTIVE OPERATORS 1881894 4/1959 Fzlhey ct al. 2/8 X RESPIRATORY ORG AGAINST \l-ilowetll E 0o 0 I. AEROSOLS 3,535,707 10/1970 Greenlee.... 2/8 [76] inventors: Igor Konstantinovich Pokhodnya, 3,605 766 9/1971 Carlani 2/14 R g tl t f FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS u 1 a 1 364071 5/1964 France 2/8 Sosnmykh, 6, kv. 54, VIadImIr I Nikolaevich Golovko, ulitsa 75,165 5/1949 Norway 2/8 Vl'd -k ,l g s g 9 kv 29 d1 of Primary Exammer-Alfred R. Guest i Attorney, Agent, or FirmHolman & Stern [22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 534,308 1571 ABSTRACT A device for protecting the operatorsrespiratory or- Apphcatlon Data gans against aerosols comprises a protective housing [63] ContInuatIon of Ser. No. 423,305, Dec. 10, 1973, provided i a light filter and a f t d i abandoned which is located on the outside of the housing under the light filter. The pipe has a length which is at least, [52] US. C1.2 1. 2/8; 2/14 R equal to that of the light filter and is Closed at one 1t. Cl. 1 I the being used to divert the aerosol [58] Field of Search 14 14 flow from the operator with the aid of air coming out 2H4 14 28/1423 1427 of the pipe perforations. [56] References Cited Thed propose d deg/ice provtides t'avouratble lworlzlitrg con 1 Ions or e opera or smce 1 e ImIn UNITED STATES PATENTS biological effects of the conditioned air detrimental to 1,464,883 8/1923 Phillips et a1. 128/1427 X 2,333,054 10/1943 Sullivan v 128/1423 1444,39; 6/1948 Woo' 128/1423 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Flgures U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,922,722

US. Patent 156221975 sheetzofz 3,922,722

FIE. 3

DEVICE FOR PROTECTIVE OPERATORS RESPIRATORY ORGANS AGAINST AEROSOLS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 423,305 filed Dec. 10, 1973, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to protective devices, and more particularly, to devices for protecting respiratory organs against the detrimental effect of aerosols.

The invention can most expediently be used when carrying out welding operations using highly efficient electrodes, powder wires, in welding aluminium and magnesium alloys, brass, pre-heated metals, hot cast iron welding, metals containing zinc, and in welding zinc-coated articles, as well as when using automatic and semi-automatic gas-shielded and archidden processes.

Besides, the invention can be expendiently used in all types of built-up welding, in many types of soldering where a possibility exists for gases and aerosols to get into the area of an operators respiration, as well as in applying various types of coatings, and in general, where a danger exists of detrimetal substances getting into the operators respiratory area.

Metal and slag are heated to high temperatures and intensively evaporated in the process of welding. The gases and aerosol formed in this case detrimentally effect the welders organism. To prevent gases and aerosols from getting into the welders respiration area, use is made of local suction ventilation.

However, the local ventilation is only effective at stationary working areas.

Many welders have to move considerable distances in the process of their work. In these cases, use is made of such devices as suction appliances built in the holders for removing aerosol and gases, small-size mobile suction applicances, a device for providing air conditioning in the welders respiration area, etc. One device of this kind is designed to protect an operators respiratory organs against aerosols, and comprises a protective housing with a light filter and a perforated pipe to supply air to the device, the pipe being connected at its one end through a hose to the compressed air duct (see US. Pat. No. 2,469,273, Cl.2-8, 22.08.1944).

When utilising the said device, a flow of conditioned air is supplied to the respiratory organs of the operator, causing bad biological effect on him, since it results in air burns of the face skin.

Apart from that, the compulsory availability of conditioned air in the device causes a number of inconveniences incurred by the preparation and control of air in the process of its utilisation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above.

The principal object of the invention is, to provide a device for protecting the operators respiratory organs against aerosol, the eliminating the detrimental biological effect of the conditioned air supplied to the respiratory area of the operator.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for protecting the operators respiratory organs against aerosols which has such an arrangement of the perforated pipe that would eliminate the detrimental biological effect of the conditioned air on the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for protecting the operators respiratory organs against aerosols which would make it possible to give up the necessity of specially preparing conditioned air, which involves cleaning, drying, pre-heating, mixing, etc.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device for protecting the operators respiratory organs against aerosols which would make it possible to extremely simplify the equipment by eliminating the need for filters, heaters, mixers, and rotameters.

The said objects are accomplished by means of a device for protecting the operators respiratory organs against aerosols which comprises a protective housing provided with a light filter and perforated pipe. One end of the pipe is connected to the compressed air duct. The perforated pipe is located, according to the invention, on the outside of the housing under the light filter, has a length which is, at least, equal to the length of the light filter, and is closed on the other end.

Owing to the fact that the perforated pipe for supplying air is located on the outside of the housing, the air coming out of the pipe openings does not get into the operators respiration area.

Such a design arrangement makes it possible to use the uncleaned technical air for protecting against aerosols, which, in turn, eliminates the detrimental biological effect, including that of affecting the face skin that conditioned air has on man.

In addition, the equipment required to supply air to the device has very much changed. The need for filters, heaters, mixers, rotameters has been eliminated together with preparing conditioned air, such preparing involving its cleaning, drying, heating, mixing, control,

etc.

To provide the best conditions for carrying out the process, it is expedient that the pipe be located so that its openings are directed at an angle confined within 0 60 to the plane of the light filter.

In case the opening is directed at an angle exceeding 60, the flow of air coming out of the openings can get into the arc area and affect the welding process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention is further illustrated by a specific example of its embodiment with reference to the accompaning drawings wherein,

FIG.1 is a front view of a device for protecting an operators respiratory organs against aerosols, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is partly cut-away view of a perforated pipe with a connection union for supplying air to the welders mask;

FIG. 4 is partly cut-away view of a perforated pipe with a connection union for supplying air to the protective shield of the welder;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the distribution of the flow of aerosol prior to utilising the device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram similar to FIG. 5, but showing the device of the present invention being utilised.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A device has been proposed for protecting respiratory organs of an operator, e.g., a welder, against aerosols formed, e.g., during the welding process when the addition agents and welded materials are melted.

The device can be constructed both in the form of a mask, or in the form of a shield.

The device comprises a protective housing 1 (FlG.l) which contains a light filter 2. Located on the outside of the housing l under the light filter 2 is a perforated pipe 3 which is connected through a rubber hose to the compressed air duct (not shown in the drawing). The pipe 3 is used to supply air to the device. The pipe 3 is located so that its openings 5 are directed at an angle a with respect to the plane of the light filter 2, with angle a confined within a range of 060, and the flow of aerosol at an angle approximating 90.

The length of the pipe 3 is equal to or somewhat larger than that of the light filter, thereby providing a larger deviation of the aerosol flow from the mask and, consequently, from the operators respiratory organs.

The pipe 3 is fastened to the housing 1 with the aid of clamps 6 and rivets 7 (FIG. 1), or by means of the stud 8 (FIGS. 3, 4) which is welded to the perforated pipe 3. The hose 4 which connects the perforated pipe 3 to the compressed air duct is fastened to the housing 1 with the aid of the clamp 9 and rivets 10 (FIG. 1).

The pipe 3 may be closed with, e.g., a plug, either at both ends and linked to the duct through the connection union 1! welded to any place of the pipe as is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, or closed at one end, in which case it is linked to the duct through the other end having a union connection 12 welded to it, as is shown in FIG. 1.

The device is fabricated from light materials (aluminium, dural, plastics, etc.). The weight of the device is -40 g, depending on the material used.

In the process of operation, when the arc is ignited, the air, compressed to 1-3 atm., or more, depending on the conditions of work, comes out of the openings 5 of the perforated pipe 3 at an angle close to 90 with respect to the column of the welding aerosol released from the area of welding and diverts the concentrated flow of aerosol to a safe distance from the operator.

FIG. 5 visually represents the distribution of the aerosol flow in the course of welding prior to the applica tion of the device constructed according to the present invention. In this case, the perforated pipe is located on the inside of the housing and the conditioned air proceeds directly to the respiration area of the operator.

FIG. 6 visually represents the distribution of the aerosol flow in the course of welding while applying the propsed device, wherein the perforated pipe 3 is located on the outside of the housing 1, and the air under pressure coming out of the openings 5 diverts the flow of aerosols and gases from the welder.

The welding aerosol is cooled, partially separated, and removed through the system of factory ventilation. Hygienic investigation conducted by the Kiev Institute of Labour Hygiene and Profesional Diseases has shown that the availability of aerosol and gases in the respiration area of the welder when utilising the proposed device is considerably lower than the maximum allowable concentrations.

Thus, for example when welding alloys containing a large amount of zinc, the content of dust in the respiration area without the proposed device amounted to 28 mg/m, and only 0.4 mg/m with the device.

The experimental and production tests have confirmed the high efficiency of the device. The simplicity of the device, its maneuverability, inexpensiveness of the utilised materials and their availability largely con tribute to its wide application.

What we claim is:

1. A device for protecting the operators respiratory organs against detrimental aerosols while breathing ambient air, comprising, in combination: a protective housing provided with a light filter and a perforated pipe having an end connected to a compressed air duct, characterised in that the perforated pipe is located on the outside of the housing under the light filter, has a length equal, at least, to that of the light filter, and is closed at another end thereof so as to blow the aerosols up and away from the housing to prevent inhalation thereof.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe is located so that perforations thereof are directed with respect to a plane of the light filter at an angle a confined within a range of 060 thereby blowing the aerosols in one direction. 

1. A device for protecting the operator''s respiratory organs against detrimental aerosols while breathing ambient air, comprising, in combination: a protective housing provided with a light filter and a perforated pipe having an end connected to a comprEssed air duct, characterised in that the perforated pipe is located on the outside of the housing under the light filter, has a length equal, at least, to that of the light filter, and is closed at another end thereof so as to blow the aerosols up and away from the housing to prevent inhalation thereof.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe is located so that perforations thereof are directed with respect to a plane of the light filter at an angle Alpha confined within a range of 0* - 60*thereby blowing the aerosols in one direction. 